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-   -   How to maintain motivation and focus in potential co-founders (https://greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=95056)

WannaB3 03-30-2008 11:54 PM

How to maintain motivation and focus in potential co-founders
 
Hey GreekChat,

I think this is my first post. I have been lurking and searching the boards like you guys always tell people to do when they post a question that has been asked over and over. I have learned a lot from the past threads but I still have a specific issue I'd like to pose for your assistance...

...I am in the process of forming an interest group for a national non-NPC organization. In the 6 months or so I have been carrying out this mission I have:

:mad:Had my vp resign;she joined another organization

:mad:Encountered numerous struggles with the office for student organizations. We finally got recognized as a registered student organization just last week!

:mad:Been shut out by the council that we need to get accepted into in order to proceed with any expansion plans. The council recently expanded and will not even consider expanding again until the orgs the let in become full members.

:mad: Tried my best to motivate others in the group to stay the course but slowly one by one people started dropping out of the group...some for legitimate reasons some a little more ambiguous reasons (how is it that you can't make a 30-45 minute meeting , but you got pictures at the university yacht party the same weekend?)...Anyway out of the 6 girls we started with at the beginning of the semester ...we are now down to 4 ladies and 1 is graduating this summer. The other two ladies do not really respond to me when I send out notices for meetings the and will RSVP they can't make it...but this is the time we all agreed upon at the start.

So..I've pretty much thrown my hands up and said fine! I started this on my own so I can surely start OVER on my own. I arranged my own informations, made a PP presentation and sent out invitations to classmates, other student organization and womens' groups, and posted on public bulletin boards. I gotten a response from 3 main girls and have met with 1. I have a formal membership process mapped out which I hope will help them to fully understand all the work that will be involved both as student org and a potential colony.

So I've said all that to ask this...once I do...hopefully..rebuild this interest group how do I ensure that people will not drop out as we continue to wait the 1-1.5 years it may take for the council to open:confused: It's a long tough job and I want to be certain that I find women that are up for the challenge and support each other through the struggles. Is this an unreasonable expectation? GreekChat, I look forward to your feedback.

WannaB3:o

KSUViolet06 03-31-2008 12:13 AM

Something to think about is how the other women may feel. Yes it's a ton of work to start up a new group, but you have to consider whether you're engaging the women you have and keeping their interest. For example, are you just having meetings, meetings, and more meetings? Or are you having some bonding/sisterhood-type things as well?

Yes the prospect of starting a new group is exciting, but the girls can potentially get very burned out if all you're doing is working on chartering-related activities. You have to create a bond within the group before you can work toward this common goal.

Also consider the uncertainty of chartering a new group. There are no guarantees so girls may feel like they're working so hard and going to meetings for something that may not happen. It's important that you keep them updated on the progress of the group so they know that something IS happening that's moving you closer to actually becoming a chapter of a sorority. If they don't feel like they're getting closer to becoming that, and they're getting burned out (and possibly bored) they will quit.

WannaB3 03-31-2008 12:28 AM

Hi

We actually did had a bonding sleepover planned at my house and no one showed up but it kinda got mixed up with directions. We tried to reschedule it but then people started having schedule problems. I tried to have a meeting to update everyone with what was going on with the council and such..I promise we tried to meet 3 times and only me and one other girl showed up every time. I even tried to arrange a conference call to talk about it. I was able to talk to another girl privately because I see her a little more often on campus than I do the others, but the times I have seen them together we were not in a place to be speaking about org business.

As far as working for something that may not happen. I fully understand that, but at the same time, I am putting in all this work for something that may not happen. Regardless, I feel that it should happen and I am willing to work to make it happen until either it does or I graduate and can join Grad Chapter:-)....and even then I will still continue to bring the org to my alma mater because I think it's important. Also, right now, we are our own autonomous organization with our own name and no affiliation with any org so I would hope that even is the colony stuff if off for a while, they would be interested enough to build this new org for other women to enjoy regardless of what happens.


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